Batching of articles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for batching articles sequentially ejected from rollers at the output of a folding machine or otherwise advanced along a predetermined path. The trailing edge of each article passing the apparatus is detected by a photosensitive device or by a similar device which imposes no retarding forces on the article. Upon detection of an article a detection signal is applied to a counter, which provides an output signal after receiving a predetermined number of detection signals. The output signal is applied to a batching mechanism, which operates to render the preceding predetermined number of articles visually identifiable from succeeding articles in the sequence.

United States Patent Hargreaves [451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] BATCHING OF ARTICLES [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Edward William Hargreaves, Tot- UNITED STATES PATENTS England 3,199,420 8/1965 Ciccone ..93/93 K [73] Assignee: Special Engineering Development Limit d, T tt H m E l d Primary ExaminerBernard Stickney Filed Jan 14 1971 Attorney-Browdy & Neimark [211 App]. No.: 106,391 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for batching articles sequentially ejected [30] Foreign Application Priority Data from rollers at the output of a folding machine or Jan 14 1970 Great Britain 188 170/70 otherwise advanced along a predetermined path. The A I 1970 Great Britain l6499/70 trailing edge of each article passing the apparatus is p detected by a photosensitive device or by a similar device which imposes no retarding forces on the arti- [52] US. Cl. ..93/ 93 K cle. p detection of an article a detection Signal is [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 33/00 applied to a counter, which provides an output signal [58] Field of Search ..'...93/93 R, 93 K, 93 DP after receiving a predetermined number of detection signals. The output signal is applied to a batching mechanism, which operates to render the preceding predetermined number of articles visually identifiable from succeeding articles in the sequence.

16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU M15 1 SHKET 1 [IF 6 PATENTEDAUG 1 I972 SHEET 4 UF 6 BATCHING or ARTICLES This invention relates to the batching of articles.

In many industrial processes large numbers of articles are produced sequentially by a single machine and the articles are then ejected one by one from the machine into or onto a receptor device, for example a bin or conveyor.

Frequently it is desirable to be able not only to count the total number of articles produced by the machine but also to batch the articles, i.e. to provide a visual identification in the sequence of articles of succeeding batches, each consisting of a predetermined number of the articles. The batches can then be separated from one another manually by an operator or automatically by a further machine, for subsequent packaging. This process of batching is particularly important in the production of printed sheets or'in machines for folding printed sheets.

According to the present invention there is provided, in a machine wherein articles are sequentially advanced along a predetermined path with a gap between succeeding articles, a visual identification of succeeding batches of articles in the sequence, apparatus comprising article sensing means which, without imposing forces which retard or substantially retard the advance of an article along the path, sense the movement of its trailing edge past a predetermined location on the path and, upon sensing, generate a detection signal, counter means, means for applying detection signals from the article sensing means to the counter means, whereby the counter means operate a predetermined output signal after the application thereto of a predetermined number of detection signals, batching means, and means for applying the output signal from the counter means to the batching means, whereby the batching means effect a predetermined batching operation which serves to render the preceding batch of the said predetermined number of articles visually identifiable from the succeeding articles in the sequence.

Visual identification of each batch of articles may be provided by displacing the final article in each batch laterally of the path traversed by the articles and/or by changing the orientation of the final article relative to the remaining articles. Alternatively, a tab or leaf may be introduced into the sequence of articles immediately after the final article in each batch. Alternatively, the direction of travel of the articles may be changed after the passage of the final article in each batch so that succeeding batches are fed to separate packaging stations.

The article sensing means may be photosensing means which comprise a light source and a photoelectric detector so arranged that movement of an article past the said location causes a change in the intensity of light from the source which impinges on the detector.

Alternatively, the article sensing means may be ultrasonic signal emitting and detecting means so arranged that movement of an article past the said location causes a change in the intensity of ultrasonic signals which impinge on the detecting means of the sensing means.

Alternatively, the article sensing means may comprise means for providing a flow of fluid across the path of the articles, and fluidic circuit means for detecting a change in the flow of fluid across the path due to the passage of an article.

Suitably, the batching means are adapted upon the application thereto of the said output signal, to effect a predetermined displacement of the final article in the batch, whereby the final article is visually identifiable from the preceding articles in the batch. The displacement may be a displacement in a direction laterally of the said path and/or a change in the orientation of the final article relative to the preceding articles in the batch.

Preferably, the batching means include a batching arm which, upon the application of the said output signal to the batching means, effects the said displacement of an article by movement into engagement with a lateral side edge of the article. In this case, the batching means may comprise a solenoid having a coil to which the said output signal is applied and an armature which is caused to move relative to the coil upon the application of the output signal to the coil, the batching means further comprising actuating means adapted upon the said movement of the armature to move the batching arm into engagement with an article. Preferably, the actuating means are so arranged that movement of the armature through a predetermined distance causes movement of the batching arm through a predetermined greater distance. The actuating means may comprise a pivoted actuating member which is engaged at or near the pivot thereof by the armature and itself engages, at a location remote from the pivot and on the same side thereof as the armature, the batching arm. Preferably, the batching arm is pivotally mounted and is engaged by roller means mounted on one end of the actuating member, the roller means engaging the batching arm at a location adjacent to the pivot of the batching arm when the arm is in a retracted, inoperative position and being moved along the arm, away from the pivot, as the actuating member moves the arm towards an operative position of engagement with an article.

Suitably, the batching means comprise a solenoid comprising a base, an electrical coil mounted in a magnetizable core in said base, a disc of magnetic material coaxial with said coil, an actuation rod attached to said disc and passing through said coil, and, hinged on said base, an actuated member adapted to abut said rod. Preferably the actuated member is biased to abut the said rod, and the point of contact between said rod and said actuated member is relatively close to the hinged connexion between the base and the member. In this way, the axial movement of the actuation rod, though small, may give rise to a substantially larger movement of that portion of the actuated member furthest from the hinged connexion. The actuated member may itself act on a further member hinged to the base in the same fashion whereby the small axial movement of the actuation rod is magnified yet further.

The batching means may include a rotary solenoid having a coil to which the said output signal is applied and an output shaft, and a batching arm coupled to the said output shaft, whereby the application of the signal to the coil causes rotation of the output shaft so as to move the batching arm into engagement with an article.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a batching apparatus according to the invention which is installed at the rear end of a paper folding machine;

FIG. 2 is a part cut-away front view of a sensing and batching unit of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line B-B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the power supply to electrical circuits in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows the electrical circuits of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is the electrical circuit of a clock unit in the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 to 7 mounted for use in conjunction with a machine for folding and cutting sheets.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus according to the invention is mounted at an output end of a machine 1 for folding pre-printed leaflets. This machine is capable of folding up to 32,000 leaflets per hour and can operate on leaflets varying in length from li inches to 20 inches. Each leaflet is provided with one or more folds along a line transverse to its direction of travel through the folding machine I and successive leaflets are spaced apart by the time they reach the output end of the machine. At this time the leaflets are travelling at a speed of up to 420 feet per minute. At the outlet end of the machine 1 are a pair of co-operating output rollers 2 from which the folded leaflets are ejected sequentially in a generally horizontal direction. A slow moving conveyor belt 3 extends forwardly of the rollers 2 and sheets ejected from the rollers are guided downwardly towards the belt 3 by forwardly and downwardly inclined guides 11. Adjacent the forward end of each guide 1 1 is a stacking roller 13 which bears against the upper surface of the belt 3, or a sheet on the belt, and is frictionally driven by the movement thereof. A leading end of each sheet is guided downwardly by the guides l 1 into engagement between the rollers 13 and the belt 3, and the speed of the sheet is thereby slowed down to that of the belt.

The spacing between the stacking rollers 13 and the output rollers 2 of the machine 1 is such that a leading edge of a folded leaflet is a short distance away from the stacking rollers by the time the trailing edge thereof is emerging from the rollers 2.

Above the belt 3, adjacent to the machine I, is a mounting bar 4 upon which is mounted an article sensing and batching unit 5 of the apparatus according to the invention. This unit 5 includes sensing means which are adapted to sense the trailing edge of each sheet immediately after it has emerged from the rollers 2 and, upon sensing, to generate an electrical detecting signal which is applied to a control unit 6. After receiving a predetermined number of detecting signals, say 50, electrical circuits in the control unit 6 generate an output signal which is applied to a batching mechanism which is also included in the unit 5. A hinged flap 9 of the batching mechanism is thereby caused to move outwardly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1.

The response time of the sensing means, the electrical circuits in control unit 6 and the batching mechanism is fast enough for the hinged flap 9 to be activated in time to engage a rearward part of the final, e.g., 50th sheet in a batch. In other words, sensing of the trailing edge of the final sheet and subsequent displacement of this sheet by the flap 9 takes place during the interval of time between ejection of the trailing edge of the sheet from the output rollers 2 and engagement of the leading edge of the sheet with the stacking rollers 13.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the sensing and batching unit 5 of the present apparatus is mounted on a mounting bar 4 which extends transversely of and above the conveyor belt 3, adjacent to the rollers 2 of the folding machine, I. The control unit 6 is mounted apart from the unit 5 and is connected to a power supply (not shown in FIG. 1). A clock unit 10 is provided for counting the total number of folded sheets ejected from the rollers 2. This unit can be integral with or mounted remotely of the control unit 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the unit 5 includes a plastic moulded base 20 formed with a bore 21 through which the mounting bar 4 extends. The base 20 is clamped on to the bar 4 by means of a clamping screw 22 which is engaged in a threaded aperture in the top of the base. Before clamping the unit 5 to the bar 4 the unit is arranged in an upstanding position and at a location lengthwise of the bar 4 which is appropriate to the lateral position of sheets emerging from the rollers 2. The position of the unit 5 lengthwise of the bar can be adjusted of course to suit sheets of different width.

Included in the sensing means of the unit 5 are a light source 8 and a photodetector head 7 which are each mounted inside a cover 40. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the covers 40 are mounted on the side of base 20 adjacent to the rollers 2 of the machine 1. The covers 40 are arranged so that the source 8 and detector 7 are at the same horizontal location, which is spaced from the nip between rollers 2 by inches, and vertically spaced apart by if. inches. The source 8 is mounted above the detector 7 since ambient light reflected from a dark pattern on an upper surface of a light sheet may cause operation of a detector mounted above the sheet, giving a spurious result. As each sheet travels from the output rollers 2 to the stacking rollers a lateral side thereof moves through the space between the source 8 and the detector 7.

To enable the light source 8 and the detector 7 to form part of a single unit with the batching mechanism the batching mechanism is provided with an electromechanical batching device having a fast response time.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a recess 23 for the batching device is formed in one side of the base 20 and at the base of the recess is an iron core 24. In the core 24 is wound an electrical coil of copper wire 25 which forms a winding of the electromechanical device. Axial with respect to core 24 is a bore which passes through the base 20 and in which is fitted a nylon bush 27. Ex-

. tending through the bush 27 is an actuation rod 28 of a mild steel disc 29. The end of rod 28 remote from disc 29 abuts a plate 30 which forms part of a lever member 31, hinged to the base via an attachment plate 32. A stop 41 serves to limit pivotal movement of the member 31 about its hinge.

The end of member 31 remote from the hinge is provided with a tubular roller 33 which locates beneath a plate 34 on a second lever member 35. Lever member 35 is likewise hingedly attached to the base by an attachment plate 36. The end of lever member 35 remote from its hinge bears flap 9, referred to above.

The flap is biased toward the base 20 by means of a tension spring 37 attached between the base 26 and plate 34.

In use of the present invention, an electrical impulse is caused to flow through the coil 25 each 50th time a trailing edge of a sheet is sensed by source 8 and detector 7. The resultant magnetic field draws disc 29 toward the coil and this moves rod 28 axially. Lever member 31 is thus rotated about its hinge clockwise, as seen in FIG. 3, by an amount detemiined by the position of stop 41. Lever member 35, actuated by member 31, is rotated anticlockwise, this movement extending flap 9 away from the base 20. During this movement the outer end of flap 9 engages a lateral side of the sheet which has just been detected by the source 8 and detector 7 moving the sheet so that the sheet falls askew on to the belt 3. In FIG. 1 a sheet 12 has been so displaced by the flap 9. Each 50th sheet is displaced in the manner of the sheet 12 so that a visual identification is provided of each batch of 50 sheets on the belt 3.

The arrangement of the rod 28, lever members 31 and 35 and the flap 9, although compact, is such that the perpendicular distance between the outer face of plate 32 and the end of flap 9 remote from the member 35 changes from zero to inches when the coil 25 is energized. This movement of the flap 9 is 12 times the movement of the armature 29. The flap provides a thrust of about 8 ozs. on the sheets.

The horizontal spacing between the beam of light which is directed downwardly from light source 8 and the outer end of flap 9 (before coil 25 is energized) is one inch. A trailing edge of a sheet which is travelling at the above-mentioned speed of 420 ft./minute travels through this distance of one inch in 12 milliseconds. For the flap 9 to engage the sheet which has just been detected by the detector 7 it is necessary therefore for the electromechanical device of the present apparatus to have a response time of less than 12 milliseconds. In practice this response time is less than 7 milliseconds.

A current pulse for energizing the coil 25 each time the predetermined number of sheets have been sensed by the source 8 and detector 7 is generated by electrical circuits included in the control unit 6. These circuits are shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. A power circuit for the unit 6 and for the source 8 is shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the detector 7 is herein shown as a phototransistor TRI in a first stage of the circuit. Coupled to this first stage is an amplifier and squaring circuit which includes transistors TRZ, TR3, and TR4. The amplifier and squaring circuit provides signals suitable for operating the decade counters N1 and N2 which may conveniently be of integrated circuit form.

Counters N1 and N2 have three output terminals whose potentials are switched to a condition after the application to the input of the counters of 25, 5t) and 100 predetermined pulses, respectively.

A switch SW1 enables any one of three output terminals of the counters to be connected to the succeeding stage of the circuit, which is a monostable multivibrator formed by transistors TR5 and TR6. Coupled to an output of the multivibrator stage are transistors TR7 and TR8 of a power amplifier for driving the coil 25 of the batching mechanism, indicated by the reference Kick solenoid in FIG. 6.

In use of the present apparatus the source 8 is energized and light therefrom is directed downwardly on to the detector 7, transistor TRl in FIG. 6. Transistor TRl is then conducting and and the input to counter N1, N2 is in the 0 condition.

When a leading edge of a sheet moves into the space between the source 8 and the detector 7 the transistor TRI is cut-off. The input to counter N1, N2 is then switched to a 1 condition.

When the trailing edge of a sheet passes between the source 8 and the detector the transistor TRl is switched on again and the input to counter N1, N2 returns to the 0 condition. The transition from a l condition to a 0 condition causes the counter N1, N2 to advance its stage.

As mentioned above, the counter stage of the circuit has three outputs any one of which can be coupled to the succeeding stage by switch SW1 and each of which provides an output voltage to the succeeding stages of the circuit after a predetermined number of trigger pulses have been applied to the input of the counter stage. Assuming that the wiper of switch SW1 is connected to the second output terminal a change in potential from O to l appears at this terminal after 50 pulses have been applied to the counter input.

The change in potential on switch SW1 is applied to transistor TR5 of the multivibrator stage, switching on this transistor and causing the associated transistor TR6 to be switched off. When transistor TR6 is cut off the current flowing in the resistor R11 is diverted into the base of transistor TR7, causing a relatively heavy base current to flow through transistor TR8 via the coil 25 of the batching mechanism. The period for which transistor TR6 is cut off, and hence the period for which current is supplied to the coil 25, can be varied by means of the potentiometer VRl up to a period of 20 milliseconds.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the power supply circuit includes a transformer and full wave bridge rectifier BRl feeding a reservoir capacitor C4. From capacitor C4 the above-mentioned potential of 24 volts is fed directly to the coil 25in the circuit of FIG. 6.

The capacitor C4 also supplies current to a voltage regulator in which transistor TR8 is a series element and transistor TRIO is a differential amplifier which compares the proportion of the regulated voltage given by resistors R13 and R14 with a standard voltage provided by diode D3. The operating current for diode D3 is provided by lamp L1, which is the source 8 of FIGS. I to 4. Additional smoothing is provided by capacitor C6.

In FIG. 7 there is shown the circuit for the clock unit 10 of FIG. 1. The circuit includes transistors TRll and TR12 which form a monostable multivibrator corresponding to the transistor TR5 and TR6. A uni-junction transistor TR13 is coupled to the collector electrode of transistor TR13 by means of a timing resistor R22. A pulse transformer couples the transistor TR13 to a triac TR14 which is connected in series with'an electromechanical clock across a 220/240 volts a.c. supply.

In use, the fourth output terminal of the counter circuit is switched from the 0 condition to a l condition after five pulses have been applied to its input. The resulting change in potential at the base electrode of transistor TRl 1 causes that transistor to be switched on and transistor TR12 to be cut-off for a period determined by the time constants of the multivibrator circuit.

With transistor TR 12 conducting the potential applied to the uni-junction transistor TR13 from transistor TR12 rises. TR13 then moves into a self,

oscillating mode and firing pulses are applied via the pulse transformer to the triac TR14. The firing pulses occur at intervals of approximately 300 In seconds so that the triac TR14 is effectively fired and conducting for the duration of the conduction of TR12.

When the triac TR14 conducts there is a low impedance in series with the electromechanical clock and the latter is energized e. g. the 220/240 a.c. supply voltage. The clock therefore records the passage of every fifth sheet past the source 8 and detector 7.

The clock unit of FIG. 7 may be mounted with the control box 6 or may be at a remote location, e.g. in the control room of a production plant where monitoring of production operations is carried out.

In a minor modification to the apparatusdescribed, a limit stop or like member may be provided on the batching mechanism to limit the outward travel of member 35 and to prevent any possibility of member 31 making an angle of 90 with member 35, at which position the member 35 could become stuck in the outward position, thus obstructing the passage of sheets.

The apparatus described above has a compact unit which includes both the sensing means and the batching mechanism. To be able to arrange sensing means and the batching mechanism close together it is necessary to provide a short response time between the sensing of a sheet and the subsequent batching operation. By providing a sensing means which detects the trailing edge of a sheet, rather than the leading edge, one can be certain that the batching mechanism is not energized before the trailing edge of the sheet has been released from the output rollers of the folding machine, without needing to vary the spacing between the batching mechanism and the sensing means if the length of sheets operated on by the machine is changed. A rapid response time enables the batching operation to be performed on the sheet which has just been detected by the sensing means. Finally, a batching mechanism which operates by movement of a batching arm or flap into engagement with an edge of a sheet can co-operating endless tapes which replace the conveyor 3. The sheets are fed directly between the tapes, which respectively engage the top and bottom surfaces of the sheets. The flap 9 acts on the th sheet whilst that sheet is engaging the tapes and there are therefore frictional forces to overcome in deflecting the sheet.

In a further modification additional circuitry is provided for delaying the pulse applied to coil 25. This allows for the use of small sheets at low speeds, where there would be a danger of the flap being fully extended before being reached by the sheet.

Referring to FIG. 8, the apparatus described above can all be used in conjunction with a machine 15 wherein slitting wheels 16 cut folded sheets lengthwise thereof into two halves as they emerge from output rollers 17. In this event the hinged flap of the unit 5 moves one half of the 50th sheet sideways thereof into overlapping relationship with the other half of the same sheet. The overlapping sheets provide a visual identification of the 50th sheet and hence of the end of each batch of 50 sheets.

Each of the apparatus described above includes sensing means which detect the movement of a trailing edge of each sheet past some predetermined location on the sheet path. The instant at which detection takes place and the circuitry and batching mechanism associated with the sensing means are operated is independent therefore of the length of the sheets. This means that no batching operation is effected until the whole of a sheet has passed the sensing means and, in the case of the above described apparatus, the batching operation consists in displacing the final sheet in a batch relative to the preceding sheets. As mentioned above, the batching operation could otherwise involve activating a device which feeds a tab or leaf into the flow of sheets or effecting some change in the direction of flow of the sheets succeeding the end of each batch, for example by directing succeeding batches to separate collecting bins.

The sensing means of the above apparatus operates without imposing forces on a sheet which would retard its movement from the output rollers 2 to the guides 11. It can be replaced by an ultrasonic generator and receiver spaced apart on respective opposite sides of the sheet path. Movement of a sheet between the generator and receiver reduces the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal picked up by the receiver and associated circuitry, adapted to operate when the signal returns to its previous magnitude, then provides a trigger to counter circuits. Alternatively, a single crystal oscillator can be used as a source of ultrasonic signals and as a receiver of signals reflected back from a sheet as it moves past the oscillator.

Alternatively, the sensing means can be fluidic means, jets of air being fed towards one another across the sheet path from respective opposite sides of the path and the balance between the jet pressures being disturbed by the passage of a sheet. This change is used to operate further fluidic circuits in the sensing means.

The above apparatus is particularly suitable for use with machines which operate on articles in the form of sheets since it is primarily in such machines that high speed operation is possible and the problems of batching are particularly acute. It will be appreciated, however, that the apparatus can be modified to act on articles other than sheets, for example small electrical components travelling along a conveyor.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for providing, in a machine wherein articles are sequentially advanced along a predetermined path with a gap between succeeding articles, a visual identification of succeeding batches of articles in the sequence, the apparatus comprising: article sensing means which are adapted, without imposing forces which tend to retard the advance of an article along the path, to sense movement of the trailing edge of the article past a predetermined location on the path and, upon sensing the said trailing edge, to generate a detection signal; counter means; means for applying detection signals from the article sensing means to .the counter means, the counter means being adapted to generate an output signal after movement of a batch containing a predetermined number of articles past the sensing means and the application to the counter means at the said predetermined number of detection signals; batching means; and means for applying the output signal from the counter means to the batching means, the batching means being adapted, upon the application of the output signal thereto, to effect a batching operation which serves to render the final article in the batch visually identifiable from the succeeding articles in the sequence.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article sensing means are photosensing means which comprise a light source and a photoelectric detector so arranged that movement of an article past the said location causes a change in the intensity of light from the source which impinges on the detector.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means are adapted, upon the application thereto of the said output signal, to effect a predetermined displacement of the final article in the batch, whereby the final article is visually identifiable from the preceding articles in the batch.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the batching means are adapted to effect a displacement of the final article in a direction laterally of the said path and/or a change in the orientation of the final article relative to the preceding articles in the batch.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the batching means include a batching arm which, upon the application of the said output signal to the batching means, effects the said displacement of an article by movement into engagement with a lateral side edge of the article.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the batching means comprise a solenoid having a coil to which the said output signal is applied and an armature which is caused to move relative to the coil upon the application of the output signal to the coil, the batching means further comprising actuating means adapted, upon the said movement of the armature, to move the batching arm into engagement with an article.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuating means are so arranged that movement of the armature through a predetermined distance causes movement of the batching arm through a predetermined greater distance.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuating means comprise a pivoted actuating member which is engaged at or near the pivot thereof by the armature and itself engages, at a location remote from the pivot and on the same side thereof as the armature, the batching arm.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the batching arm is pivotably mounted and is engaged by roller means mounted on one end of the actuating m mbe ,the oller mean en a b tchi arm at a location ad iacent to the p 1v% t %f the atclii ng arm when the arm is in a retracted inoperative position and being moved along the arm, away from the pivot, as the actuating member moves the arm towards an operative position of engagement with an article.

lit). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article sensing means and the batching means are mounted adjacent to one another on a common support.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein operation of the batching means to provide a visual identification of the batch is effected within a period less than 7 milliseconds after detection of a trailing edge of the final article in the batch.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the batching means includes a rotary solenoid having a coil to which the said output signal is applied and an output shaft, and a batching arm coupled to the said output shaft, whereby the application of the signal to the coil causes rotation of the output shaft so as to move the batching arm into engagement with an article.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means are adapted to introduce a tab or leaf into the sequence of articles so as to provide a visual identification of the passage of a batch.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means are adapted to effect a change in the direction of articles after the passage of the final article in a batch, whereby succeeding batches are fed to separate packaging stations.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means are ultrasonic signal emitting and detecting means so arranged that movement of an article past the said location causes a change in the intensity of ultrasonic signals which impinge on the detecting means of the sensing means.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprise means for providing a flow of fluid across the path of the articles, and fluidic circuit means for detecting a change in the flow of fluid across the path due to the passage of an article. 

1. Apparatus for providing, in a machine wherein articles are sequentially advanced along a predetermined path with a gap between succeeding articles, a visual identification of succeeding batches of articles in the sequence, the apparatus comprising: article sensing means which are adapted, without imposing forces which tend to retard the advance of an article along the path, to sense movement of the trailing edge of the article past a predetermined location on the path and, upon sensing the said trailing edge, to generate a detection signal; counter means; means for applying detection signals from the article sensing means to the counter means, the counter means being adapted to generate an output signal after movement of a batch containing a predetermined number of articles past the sensing means and the application to the counter means at the said predetermined number of detection signals; batching means; and means for applying the output signal from the counter means to the batching means, the batching means being adapted, upon the application of the output signal thereto, to effect a batching operation which serves to render the final article in the batch visually identifiable from the succeeding articles in the sequence.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article sensing means are photosensing means which comprise a light source and a photoelectric detector so arranged that movement of an article past the said location causes a change in the intensity of light from the source which impinges on the detector.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means are adapted, upon the application thereto of the said output signal, to effect a predetermined displacement of the final article in the batch, whereby the final article is visually identifiable from the preceding articles in the batch.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the batching means are adapted to effect a displacement of the final article in a direction laterally of the said path and/or a change in the orientation of the final article relative to the preceding articles in the batch.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the batching means include a batching arm which, upon the application of the said output signal to the batching means, effects the said displacement of an article by movement into engagement with a lateral side edge of the article.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the batching means comprise a solenoid having a coil to which the said output signal is applied and an armature which is caused to move relative to the coil upon the application of the output signal to the coil, the batching means further comprising actuating means adapted, upon the said movement of the armature, to move the batching arm into engagement with an article.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuating means are so arranged that movement of the armature through a predetermined distance causes movement of the batching arm through a predetermined greater distance.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuating means comprise a pivoted actuating member which is engaged at or near the pivot thereof by the armature and itself engages, at a location remote from the pivot and on the same side thereof as the armature, the batching arm.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the batching arm is pivotably mounted and is engaged by roller means mounted on one end of the actuating member, the roller means engaging the batching arm at a location adjacent to the pivot of the batching arm when the arm is in a retracted inoperative position and being moved along the arm, away from the pivot, as the actuating member moves the arm towards an operative position of engagement with an article.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article sensing means and the batching means are mounted adjacent to one another oN a common support.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein operation of the batching means to provide a visual identification of the batch is effected within a period less than 7 milliseconds after detection of a trailing edge of the final article in the batch.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the batching means includes a rotary solenoid having a coil to which the said output signal is applied and an output shaft, and a batching arm coupled to the said output shaft, whereby the application of the signal to the coil causes rotation of the output shaft so as to move the batching arm into engagement with an article.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means are adapted to introduce a tab or leaf into the sequence of articles so as to provide a visual identification of the passage of a batch.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means are adapted to effect a change in the direction of articles after the passage of the final article in a batch, whereby succeeding batches are fed to separate packaging stations.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means are ultrasonic signal emitting and detecting means so arranged that movement of an article past the said location causes a change in the intensity of ultrasonic signals which impinge on the detecting means of the sensing means.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprise means for providing a flow of fluid across the path of the articles, and fluidic circuit means for detecting a change in the flow of fluid across the path due to the passage of an article. 